How to play Texas Holdem Poker
Texas Holdem is without a doubt the most popular form of poker. Those interested in engaging in a little excitement on the various online poker sites can make a start with this form which is reasonably easy to understand.
Playing Texas Holdem poker requires a deck of cards, chips, a dealer button and players numbering between two and twenty.
1. The second player on the dealer’s left puts a ‘big blind’ which represents the amount of the smallest best (as decided by players in advance) and the player right next to the dealer’s left throws in his ‘little blind’ (half or one-third of the big blind).
2. The dealer gives everyone two cards referred to as hole.
3. The game kicks off when the player to the immediate left of the person that contributed the big blind calls, raises or folds. This continues round the circle moving clock-wise and is termed ‘action.’
4. Then, three cards or ‘flop’ are placed by the dealer in the center, face up. These can be used by all players in conjunction with their holes to create the best possible hand.
5. The player on the dealer’s left then starts the process and can either bet or check.
6. The dealer places another card face up. It’s called the ‘turn.’
7. Betting begins again in the clock wise direction.
8. When that’s done, the dealer deals the fifth card face up on the table center. This one’s is referred to as both ‘the fifth street’ and ‘the river.’
9. This is followed by the last betting round. All the players left are asked to show their cards to determine who has the best five combination (of hole cards and those on the table or ‘board’).
10. If the best hand on the board can’t be outplayed by any of the remaining players, then the pot is divided among them.